My grandmother is bipolar, will it pass on to me ?

Question

ok so my grandmother is in the hospital right now , she has been in the hospital previous times before in her life and she seriously hates it, she ran away from home , let her house go rotton from rotting meat and wasnt living in it for a month , the cops had to track her down and put her in a headlock and everything just to get her to the hospital! It was crazy, and now she hates my mom because my mom is the one who suggested putting her in the hospital again. My aunt and cousins don't even talk to my grandma anymore , which I think is horrible because I know it's not her fault for what she's doing , i bet she doesnt even know. Its not the real her , she's sick and people have to understand that. But.. I am afraid she will never get better. I also think that bipolar got passed down to my mom a little bit because sometimes she gets wingy too. And acts phsyco and sometimes ... actually mostley all the time is depressed. I dont know about my aunt and cousins I dont really see them that often. And I was just wondering if Bipolar disease.. ause i think it runs in my family... will be passed down to me !? O__o I hope to God I dont get it because I am afraid no one could love me with that kind of diseaes .. because thats whats happening to my grandma , even though i still love her even though i havnt went to visit her yet , and I always get mad at her. :( I dont know what to do.

Answer 1

Mental illness can be passed down.  If your ma has it the chances of you getting it ranges from 17-30 percent.  So the odds are in your favor.  Try not to worry about something that will probably not happen.  In regards to your Grandma there comes a point when people have to accept responsibility and stick with their medications and low-stress lifestyles.  Many people with bipolar have had unpleasant involuntary psych ward visits and when manic often very upset when others put them in.  I think it's great that you're there for your grandma.  You sound more mature than your Aunt and cousins.

Answer 2

The stat I heard is that ppl with bipolar parents have only a 10% chance of getting the illness.  That's really low, so don't worry about it.  If your mom is depressed, the odds are that she has depression, not bipolar.  That would mean your odds are even lower.  

Like a couple other answerers, I have bipolar.  With meds and therapy, you can live a normal life.  Most ppl with bipolar only have real problems when they go off meds and then go manic.  Once they go manic, they are irrational, don't always recognize how bad off they are, and it can be impossible to reason with them.  Once they are stabilized it becomes their choice to remain med compliant or not.  Whether your grandma chooses differently this time is hard to say.  I hope she does.  I also think it's great that you stick by her.  Having ppl who care always helps a lot.

Answer 3

it may not be

Answer 4

my step dad is very bipolar and the only time he acts crazy is when he quits taking his medicine. There is a chance it could get passed down to you but if it does, you gotta remember you have a disease and you HAVE TO take your medicine..

Answer 5

yes it could be passed down to you

Answer 6

I have bipolar disorder and so did my father and his mother.  That does not mean that you are going to get it.  If you do there are treatments available that can help you lead a normal life like medication and therapy.  I have a wonderful boyfriend who loves me a great deal.  Just keep an eye on yourself if you start feeling depressed get checked out because early intervention is the best.  You do not have to live like your grandmother if you get it.  It usually comes on in young adulthood.  Mine came in when I was around 19 or 20.  Best of luck to you.  It does not mean you are going to get it.  It just means that you have to be careful and watch for early signs.